As fans eagerly await the release of Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, a new study by researchers at the University of Texas and the University of Chicago has found that impatience tends to increase as the end of a wait draws near. Contrary to popular belief, impatience is not solely based on the amount of time and emotional energy invested in waiting, but rather the desire for closure in that specific area of their lives.
One of the key studies conducted by the researchers focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and the release of vaccines in the U.S. Participants were surveyed at different times, revealing that impatience for the vaccine increased as the release date drew closer, while impatience for the end of the pandemic remained relatively consistent. This trend was also observed in other scenarios such as waiting for election results, demonstrating a common desire for closure as the end of a wait approaches.
In a study involving waiting for a bus, participants experienced increased impatience as the time remaining for the bus to arrive decreased. This suggests that it is the proximity to the end of a wait, rather than the total amount of time spent waiting, that drives impatience. Similar results were found in scenarios involving tracking a delivery truck, waiting for a package, and experiencing traffic delays.
The research by Roberts and Fishbach has practical implications, suggesting that in situations where individuals are waiting, it may be beneficial to inform them about potential delays early on and to overestimate wait times. Additionally, individuals anticipating a long-awaited event can plan ahead with activities to help deal with the surge in impatience as the end of the wait approaches.
For Taylor Swift fans eagerly anticipating the release of her new album on April 19th, this research suggests that impatience may continue to rise as the release date nears. However, the eventual release will provide closure and satisfaction for fans who have been eagerly awaiting this new musical offering.
